Catch for bracelets.



PATENTED JAN. 22, 1907.

No. 841,909. .i

W, WALAENTHIN.

CATCH FCRv BRACELETS. APPLIOATION FILED JULY 30, 1906.

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PATENT OFFICE.

WALFRID WALLENTHIN, OF ATTLEBORQ MASSAOH TO S. O. BIGNEY AND COMPANY A FIRM.

CATCH FOR USETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS,

BRACELETS.

No. 841,909. speeication' of Letters Patent. Patented Jan. 22, 1907.

Application filed July 30, 1906. Serial No. 328,319.

To all whom t mln/y concern:

Be it known that I, WALFRIDWALLENTHIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at the town of Attleboro, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented -certain new and useful Improvements in Catches for Bracelets, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to catches for bracelets, and has for its object to provide a spring-catch of simple and practical construction that will positively lock and hold the two adjacent ends of the bracelet securely together and prevent them from being pulled or sprung apart or opened while said two ends are locked together.

In carrying out my invention I preferably form the body of the bracelet in two sections having abutting ends pivotally connected together in such manner that the movable or locking ends of the bracelet may be swung past each other at right angles to the plane of the body portion to admitof the bracelet being opened to receive the hand or arm of the wearer. The body-sections are preferably formed of resilient material, tending to hold the free ends normally separated, the free end of one of said sections being provided with a reduced portion constructed to enter the contiguous end of the other section, the latter being provided with a suitable catch.

The invention is fully set forth in this specification and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l shows a bracelet in elevation with a portion broken away to show the lock. Fig. 2 is an edge view of the bracelet, showing the position the two parts take in relation to each other when the bracelet is open by swinging the halves on the pivot-joint. Fig. 3 is the same as Fig. l, showing the locking ends of the bracelet as having sprung apart. .Fig.` 4 is an enlarged sectional view showin the swinging ends of the bracelet-tubing as eing closed together and locked by the locking mechanism. Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing the locking device as disengaged and the tubing as having sprung apart to its normal position. Fig. 6 illustrates the two ends of the bracelet as having been carried past and out of each other in a lateral direction. Fig.

7 is a detail showing the spring lockingtongue. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the cup member that is secured in one end of the tubing.

Referring to the drawings, l and 2 are the two halves of the bracelet, which are preferably constructed of resilient tubing bent into the desired form to embrace the arm or wrist of the wearer. In this particular style of bracelet it is desired to open the same in a lateral direction, which is done by carrying one end past the other and off at right angles to the plane of the body of the bracelet in order to admit or release the hand'or arm of the wearer.

The two halves or sections l and 2 are pivotally united by a pin or pintle l5, secured in the end of one section and projected into a recess in the abutting end of the other section, the object of this invention beingto provide a catch or lock adapted to be operated in a bracelet having this lateral opening movement to engage the movable ends 3 and 4 of the same and securely lock and hold 'them in position when closed together. In attaining this object I preferably iita cupshaped member 5 into the end of the tubing of one part of the bracelet. The closed end 7 of this member extends out beyond the end of the tubing, forming a reduced extension over which the hollow adjacent end of the bracelet may fit to hold the ends in perfect alinement and prevent a lateral motion ofthe two parts when the ends are brought together. 4The outer end or edge of this member is nicely rounded off at 8, so that if the two ends should hit on the side of the extension as they approach each other when mo ving in this lateral direction they would slide past into position without bringing up or stopping against the same. This rounded portion also serves as a guide to center or line up the ends when brought together into the locking position. The closed end of this cup is' provided with a slot or opening 9 for the reception of the locking spring-tongue l0. This locking-tongue, as illustrated in detail in Fig. 7, is located within the end of the adjacent tubular member and is secured therein at 6, by means of solder, rivets, or any other suitable fastening and is provided with a long thin resilient shank 11. Extending downward and outwardly from this shank is the IOC vIYOS hooked end 12, which is adapted to enter the eye 9 in the cup member and engage the inner wall of the same. At 13 is an upwardlyextending portion integral with the shank and hook, which projects through the hole 14 in the Wall of the tubing and is for the purpose of receiving pressure from the thumb or iingers, by which to depress the hoolr 12 to disengage the same from the wall 7 in the cup member to unlock the two ends.

A very essential feature or' this invention,

which must be taken in connection with the catch-lock, is that the same is adapted to work with a joint which will swing laterally in either direction, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, it being often desirable in bracelets of this character not to conline the swing of the ends to one direction only. In such a bracelet the joint should be tight at all times, and particularly when it comes to the center position, where the two swinging members are in line with each other. The sides or swinging members must also be constructed of a suitable material and tempered, so as to have a springy or resilient quality and should be constructed so that when the bracelet is unlocked and in its normal position the two ends will stand open or a short distance apart, requiring a pressure of the hand toforce and spring the ends of the tubing together, so that they will meet, and the lock is so constructed that on bringing these two ends together the same will automatically -engage the adjacent end and lock the two rmly together and hold themclose and rigid.

In opening the bracelet it is found to be an essential. feature and of importance to the practical operation of the same that upon depressing the spring-tongue and unlocking the ends that the said ends will automatically spring apart, thus completely releasing the interlocking ends, leaving the same free to be moved either way in a lateral direction to open the bracelet.

It is obvious that in lieu of arranging sections 1 and 2- so as to normally tend to separate they may be so set, if desired, that the free ends normally tend to overlap, whereupon it would be necessary to draw them apart in order that the ends might be brought into line to interlock.

A bracelet constructed with resilient arms, in combination with a catch and joint, as described above, is very simple and practical in its operation and comparatively inexpensive to construct.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A bracelet comprising two resilient tubular sections, means for pivotally uniting adjacent ends of said sections to permit the sections to swing laterally in either direction, and a catch for detachably uniting the free v ends of said sections.

2. A bracelet comprising two resilient tu- Y bular sections, a pintle secured in the end of one section and projecting into the adjacent end of the other section, whereby said sections may swing laterally in either direction, and a catch for detachably uniting the Jfree ends of said sections.

3. A bracelet comprising two resilient tubular sections, means for pivotally uniting adjacent ends of said sections to permit the sections to swing laterally in either direction, a cup-shaped locking-piece secured in the free end of one of said members, the other member having an opening to receive said locking-piece, and a spring-catch in said opening arranged to engage said locking-piece.

4. A bracelet comprising two resilient tu* bular sections, a pintle secured in the end of one section and projecting into the adjacent end of the other section, whereby said sections may swing laterally in either direction, a cup-shaped locking-piece secured in the free end of one of said members, the free end of the other member being provided with an opening to receive said locking-piece. and a spring-catch in said opening arranged to engage said locking-piece.

In testimony whereof l affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WALFRID WALLENTHIN. Witnesses:

HOWARD E. E. I. OGDEN.

BARLow 

